“It’s our constitutional right to free speech and our constitutional right to free press”
May 4, 2026
A political illustrator working for a major farm publication in Iowa was fired Saturday after his latest piece portrayed Monsanto and other Big Ag companies in a negative light.
Farm News political cartoonist Rick Friday received word over the weekend that his latest cartoon, entitled “Profit,” would be his last.
In the black & white illustration published last Friday, Rick depicted two farmers discussing their dwindling profits.
Again, I fall hard in the best interest of large corporations. I am no longer the Editorial Cartoonist for Farm News due to the attached cartoon which was published yesterday. Apparently a large company affiliated with one of the corporations mentioned in the cartoon was insulted and cancelled their advertisement with the paper, thus, resulting in the reprimand of my editor and cancellation of It’s Friday cartoons after 21 years of service and over 1090 published cartoons to over 24,000 households per week in 33 counties of Iowa.
I did my research and only submitted the facts in my cartoon.
That’s okay, hopefully my children and my grandchildren will see that this last cartoon published by Farm News out of Fort Dodge, Iowa, will shine light on how fragile our rights to free speech and free press really are in the country.
Farm News political cartoonist Rick Friday received word over the weekend that his latest cartoon, entitled “Profit,” would be his last.
In the black & white illustration published last Friday, Rick depicted two farmers discussing their dwindling profits.
“I wish there was more profit in farming,” one man says.
“There is,” replies the other farmer. “In year 2015 the CEOs of Monsanto, Dupont Pioneer and John Deere combined made more money than 2,129 Iowa farmers.”
On Saturday, a Farm News editor contacted Friday to inform him the publication would no longer accept illustrations due to the controversial nature of the “Profit” cartoon.
“In the eyes of some, Big Ag cannot be criticized or poked fun at,” explained the email. “The cartoon resulted in one seed dealer canceling his advertising with Farm News.”
In a Facebook post Saturday, Rick held firm his cartoon had been well-researched, and made it known he was proud he had shaken up the establishment by exercising his First Amendment rights.
“Hopefully my children and my grandchildren will see that this last cartoon published by Farm News out of Fort Dodge, Iowa, will shine light on how fragile our rights to free speech and free press really are in the country,” the artist wrote.
In subsequent cartoons shared on his Facebook page, Friday excoriated his former bosses, with one image showing a man wearing a press badge siding with the Big Ag corporations.
I usually snuggle in at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee really early on Monday mornings to draw and send my cartoon to Farm News before I do my daily chores on the farm, BUT I am really motivated today. “It’s Friday!”© by Rick Friday
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.- Lao Tzu
“It’s Friday!”© by Rick Friday
“When it comes to altering someone’s opinion or someone’s voice for the purpose of wealth, I have a problem with that,” Friday said in a comment to KCCI. “It’s our constitutional right to free speech and our constitutional right to free press.”
chulai1968
Truth Prevailing
Publius Huldah
radioroger2015
revaustinmiles
Steve
What - no one in America has a sense of humor anymore? I guess everyone’s looking for their safe space. If such small things offend so much that a person loses a job, it indicates something is very wrong. It sounds like the Muslim mentality of control is seeping in. Remember the Mohammed cartoons? Is Monsanto now in a deity role like Mohammed? Things are going to get much more offensive folks. A little grace would go a long way.
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The NWO doesn’t deal in grace Cathy. That venue is reserved for Jehovah God.
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